Michael Hermosillo of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball during a game in Oakland, California, on Saturday, July 25.
Baseball is back. And it looks a lot different
Michael Hermosillo of the Los Angeles Angels catches a fly ball during a game in Oakland, California, on Saturday, July 25.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Updated 12:01 PM EDT, Mon July 27, 2020

Major League Baseball started its season Thursday night, four months after Opening Day was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington Nationals, the defending World Series champions, hosted the New York Yankees in the season opener. The Yankees won 4-1 in a rain-shortened game.

For the past few weeks, teams have been preparing for this 60-game abbreviated season that will look very different than what they're used to.

Games will be played without fans, although many teams will have cardboard cutouts of people to make it seem a little less empty. Players are encouraged to socially distance from one another, laying off the high-fives and the home-run hugs. Spitting is banned. And there have been a few rule changes to help teams cope with playing so many games in a short time span — most notably, the National League adopting the designated hitter.

A New York Mets employee places fan cutouts before the team's opener on Friday, July 24.
A New York Mets employee places fan cutouts before the team's opener on Friday, July 24.
Seth Wenig/AP
Seattle Mariners right fielder Mallex Smith dives for a ball in Houston on Friday.
Seattle Mariners right fielder Mallex Smith dives for a ball in Houston on Friday.
David J. Phillip/AP
The Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees line up on the field prior to Major League Baseball's season-opening game on Thursday, July 23.
The Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees line up on the field prior to Major League Baseball's season-opening game on Thursday, July 23.
Alex Brandon/AP
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/us/fauci-first-pitch-nationals-yankees-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">throws out the ceremonial first pitch</a> before the Nationals-Yankees opener.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals-Yankees opener.
Rob Carr/Getty Images
The Yankees kneel for a moment of silence before standing for the National Anthem on Thursday. The Nationals also took a knee to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The initials BLM were on the pitcher's mound for the game.
The Yankees kneel for a moment of silence before standing for the National Anthem on Thursday. The Nationals also took a knee to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The initials BLM were on the pitcher's mound for the game.
Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Washington ace Max Scherzer pitches to Gleyber Torres during the opening game.
Washington ace Max Scherzer pitches to Gleyber Torres during the opening game.
Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos/Getty Images
People watch the opener from a rooftop bar overlooking Nationals Park.
People watch the opener from a rooftop bar overlooking Nationals Park.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Washington reliever Sean Doolittle, center, wears a face mask in the dugout before Thursday's game.
Washington reliever Sean Doolittle, center, wears a face mask in the dugout before Thursday's game.
Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos/Getty Images
A Nationals fan looks through a stadium gate on Thursday.
A Nationals fan looks through a stadium gate on Thursday.
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Cardboard cutouts of fans are seen at Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their season against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Cardboard cutouts of fans are seen at Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their season against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Rob Leiter/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Umpire Bill Miller calls Mookie Betts safe at home plate, scoring a run for the Dodgers on Thursday.
Umpire Bill Miller calls Mookie Betts safe at home plate, scoring a run for the Dodgers on Thursday.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
A camera operator stands in the middle of fan cutouts in Los Angeles.
A camera operator stands in the middle of fan cutouts in Los Angeles.
Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News/Getty Images
Members of the Boston Red Sox sit apart from one another in a Fenway Park dugout before scrimmaging Toronto on Tuesday, July 21.
Members of the Boston Red Sox sit apart from one another in a Fenway Park dugout before scrimmaging Toronto on Tuesday, July 21.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
San Francisco's Tyler Heineman bumps forearms with first-base coach Alyssa Nakken during a preseason game on July 21. Nakken was making history as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/us/woman-coach-san-francisco-giants-spt-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">the first woman to ever coach in Major League Baseball.</a>
San Francisco's Tyler Heineman bumps forearms with first-base coach Alyssa Nakken during a preseason game on July 21. Nakken was making history as the first woman to ever coach in Major League Baseball.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Fan cutouts are seen at the Oakland Coliseum as the Oakland Athletics play the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game on July 20.
Fan cutouts are seen at the Oakland Coliseum as the Oakland Athletics play the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game on July 20.
Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images
A closer look at some of the fan cutouts in Oakland.
A closer look at some of the fan cutouts in Oakland.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez sprays sanitizer in the dugout during an intrasquad game on July 17.
Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez sprays sanitizer in the dugout during an intrasquad game on July 17.
Nathan Denette/AP
The Colorado Rockies play an intrasquad game in Denver on July 15.
The Colorado Rockies play an intrasquad game in Denver on July 15.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Umpire Alan Porter receives baseballs from a Philadelphia Phillies bat boy during a team scrimmage on July 14.
Umpire Alan Porter receives baseballs from a Philadelphia Phillies bat boy during a team scrimmage on July 14.
Matt Slocum/AP
A stadium worker watches an Atlanta Braves scrimmage on July 13.
A stadium worker watches an Atlanta Braves scrimmage on July 13.
Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Baltimore's Chris Davis, left, and Austin Hays tap feet after Hays hit a home run during training on July 8.
Baltimore's Chris Davis, left, and Austin Hays tap feet after Hays hit a home run during training on July 8.
Julio Cortez/AP
A coach dumps a bucket of used baseballs during workouts in Oakland on July 5. During the season, balls will be taken out of play after they've been handled by multiple players. Then the balls will be sanitized and recycled days later.
A coach dumps a bucket of used baseballs during workouts in Oakland on July 5. During the season, balls will be taken out of play after they've been handled by multiple players. Then the balls will be sanitized and recycled days later.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The New York Mets spread out as they stretch on July 3.
The New York Mets spread out as they stretch on July 3.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, last year's American League MVP, runs the bases during a workout on July 3.
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, last year's American League MVP, runs the bases during a workout on July 3.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Boston players walk by a sign encouraging social distancing at Fenway Park.
Boston players walk by a sign encouraging social distancing at Fenway Park.
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images